Bissau, July 6, 2025 (Lusa) - Several Guinean political figures from the Bijagós archipelago have expressed hope that recognition of the area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site will bring benefits that enhance people’s lives.

In separate interviews, Dionísio Pereira, former Minister of Fisheries and current member of parliament, Francisco Conduto de Pina, former Minister of Tourism and also a member of parliament, and Quintino Rodrigues, former governor of the Bolama/Bijagós region, openly shared their satisfaction with the recognition and also expressed their concerns.

“This has several implications, and I look forward to completing the work that remains,” Pereira told Lusa, speaking from a speedboat on another trip to one of the Bijagós islands.

Dionísio Pereira recalled that the archipelago once held the designation of a Biosphere Reserve and a Ramsar site (an internationally protected wetland), and the islanders maintained their traditional way of life.

“It served more as indicators for some international programmes, and today UNESCO is about to consider us a World Heritage Site,” said Pereira, who believes that, first and foremost, specific legislation should govern the site and rules should regulate fishing and the use of the environment.

Francisco Conduto de Pina said that the recognition of the Bijagós archipelago as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site presents an opportunity to manage tourism responsibly, guide the area toward ongoing human and economic well-being, and address climate change.

“We need to protect life today and think about the future,” argued Conduto de Pina, who responded to Lusa in writing.

In his opinion, people must protect cultural assets so that they can continue to pass them on to future generations, but always “in harmony between man and nature”.

Dionísio Pereira asked what measures the authorities have adopted to mitigate natural disasters in the area to be recognised, an area he said already shows coastal erosion, as well as how much the budget is and who will finance it.

“We still need more preparation to manage and administer that,” stressed Dionísio Pereira, noting also that a plan is needed to educate young people about what World Natural Heritage is.

Former governor of the Bolama/Bijagós region, Quintino Rodrigues, congratulated “those who voted for the decision” to recognise the area as a World Natural Heritage Site, which, in his view, “will give more strength and draw more attention to Guinea-Bissau itself and the Bijagós Islands”.

“Anyone who comes here will find us with open arms,” emphasised Rodrigues.

The three politicians also emphasised the need to improve access to the Bijagós Islands, highlighting the opportunity to establish transport services that connect the 23 inhabited islands to the mainland of Guinea-Bissau.

 “When we point out that we deserve more attention, people think we are asking too much. It takes four hours to visit three or four regions on the mainland, but it takes six hours to travel from one island to another,” recalled Quintino Rodrigues.

Dionísio Pereira highlights the need for additional boats to strengthen the weekly connection between Bissau and Bubaque, suggests expanding secondary schools up to the 12th grade to more islands than Bolama and Bubaque, and emphasises the value of introducing dedicated transport for the sick in the area.

‘Anyone who is ill and relies on finding a [fishing] canoe must reach medical care promptly,’ Pereira observed, adding that a teacher posted to the Bijagós spends 15 days of work travelling to and from Bissau, where they go to collect their salary.

The area relies on alternative financial services rather than commercial banks or money transfer agencies.

The islands, considered a natural and cultural treasure, are among the 32 sites around the world nominated for World Heritage status, and UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, will announce its decision on 11 July in France.

The 47th meeting of the World Heritage Committee is taking place between today and 16 July at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

MB/ADB // ADB.

Lusa